Fluid dispenser and manufacture thereof



L. T. WARD 2,690,279

FLUID DISPENSER AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed April 5, 1947 s sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 28, 1954 F IG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR LAWRENCE T. WARD J/yh r//f ATTOR FIG. 4

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LAWRENCE T. WARD sept. 2s, 1954 l... T, WARD FLUID DISPENSER AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed April 5, 1947 Sept. 28, 1954 L. T. WARD FLUID DISPENSER AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed April 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR LAWRENCE T. wARD' ATTRNEYS Patented Sept. Z8, 1954 1. f

UNITED m.'S'fA-'I ES PATENT OFFICE n 'l `assioma v o FLUID lDISPENSER AND .MANUFAGTURE rk'rnEnroF 'y y*Lawrence T.-Ward, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner,

- bymesne assignments, to Charles il Newark, N. J., as trustee C. 4Trelease,

lpplication April 5, 1947, Serial No. 739,638'

" v'sule or other container is iilled with'a fluid under pressure, for' dispensing such fluid, leither by piercing the capsule or by operating valve means associated therewith.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an improved uid dispenser and an improved apparatus' and Vmethod for filling and 'sealing such dispensers.

With this general object and more specific objects which will appear in the following full description in mind, the invention `consists in the combinations and arrangements of p-arts and details of construction, and inthe methods of forming and filling fluid capsules, which'will now first be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and then be more particularly 'pointed out in the appended claims.

" In the drawing:

' Figure l showsa sealing element in elevation and the same sealing element inserted in a capsule shell, in CentralY longitudinal Section;

"Figure 5 is a view showing a sealing element, o 'together with associated tool mechanism for iill-"i f ling and sealing a capsule; h

Figure 6 is a view showing the elements of Figlure 5, together with a capsule in Vfilling position;

Figure 7 is a view showing afurther step in 'the manufacture of the capsule by the mechanism of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation showing a welding operation performed on thecapsule;

. Figure 9 is a central longitudinal section show- .ing av dispensing head -associated with the capsule of Figures 4 and 8;

Y lFigure-10 is an elevation View of the dispensing head-ofFigureQ; f f

Figure 11 shows a modied dispensing head :associated with a capsule of modified form;

' V-Figure l2 is a View inside elevation of the dis- -'pensing device of Figure 11;' 1f"- *Figure'lS shows stillY anotherv form of dispens-m ingihead` associated with a ninotliedcapsule i" 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) Figure 14 isa viewiniside elevation of the dispensing head of Figure 13; f f Y' Figure 15 shows a modied form of dispensing 'shape to the well' known sparklets, formed as a single drawn metal shell, having a central upper opening Z, for accommodating a sealing element l 3. The sealing elementt is shown in lthe figure inserted in the capsule opening 2 inv a preliminary stage of manufacturey'and is also'shown in side elevation above the capsule. The sealing element ispreferably metal, having the desired ductility for the'manufacturing operations described below. Brass and various aluminum alloys are suitable materials, "the'selection of such material depending upon the fluids to be contained inthe capsule and other specific service requirements. The'vsealing element may have, as* shown in `Figure 1; a form similar Ytov blind rivets. Such blind rivets'and' tools for'inserting Land fastening them are in themselves lwell known and are disclosed, kfor example, in Waner vPatents No. 2,149,199, dated February 28,V 1939 and'No.

2,188,422, dated January .30, 1940'. The sealing element 3 hask agenerally cylindrical body or [shank 4 an upper ange or head 5 and ja central bore 6, a part of which is threaded 'asas'L The lower end'8 of the' rivet is closedy but the wall thickness at this point will be sufficiently small so as to permit puncture thereof by a piercing element', as later described.v For forming a high ypressure seal and -also for cooperating in the welding operation described below, there is applied to the sealing element 3 before insertion into the capsule l, a band of rubber or similar elastic material. In upsetting the sealing element for closing the capsule l, a tool comprising an anvil l, 'against which the sealing element is seated, is utilized and a plunger` Il slidable within a central `bore inthe anvil has a screw-threa led'v end l2 which is screwed into the threaded portion l of the central bore in the sealying element 3. Retractionfof the plunger l l with reference to the anvil i0 pulls ,outwardly the inner part of the sealing element 3, upsetting the metal and expanding it outwardly as indicated at I3, so as to form a pressure seal between the 'sealing velement andthe *capsule I.'A The band 9 will be'thereby compressed --to forma comscrewed and the tool removed, the capsule having the form shown in Figure 3.

It is preferred to weld the sealing element to the capsule shell I, and Figure 4 shows diagrammatically the welding operation. The capsule is compressed between upper and lower electrodes I4 and I5 and the welding current is applied through connections indicated schematically by the wires I6. The elastic band 9 is preferably of suiiicient length so that it prevents contact between projection I3 of the sealing member 3 and the inner wall of the capsule shell I, insulating these elements one from the other. The welding current will therefore be effective between the lower surface of flange 5, outside the band 9, and the subjacent surface of the shell I, welding the same together as indicated in Figure 4. In this way, the welding current will be confined to a desired area and will form a hermetic seal under the periphery of the flange 5, producing a sealed capsule which is to all intents and purposes a unitary continuous metal structure.

While a liquid has been indicated in the capsule and in some applications a capsule shell containing only liquid may be sealed by the method just disclosed, it will more frequently occur that propellent gas under pressure must also be introduced into the capsule during the sealing operation. Figures 5 to 8 show a means and method for such sealing. The mechanism for thus sealing the capsule will comprise a casing member 20 having a resilient sealing ring 2l for cooperating with the capsule to be filled and sealed, and which may be held to the body member as by means of a threaded sleeve 22. The frame structure supporting the elements may be of any conventional form and is not shown. It will be understood, however, that the casing member 20 is held stationary and that the capsule shell I is pressed firmly against the sealing ring 2I as indicated in Figure 7, so as to form a seal thereagainst. A moveable anvil 23 is reciprocated in a bore within the casing 20 and is sealed thereto as by means of packing 24. Riveting plunger 25, in turn, reciprocates within a central bore with the anvil 23 being sealed thereto by packing 26 and having a screw-threaded lower end 2l for engaging the internal thread of the sealing element as before described. The sealing element 3 may be the same as that described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 and is shown only in side elevation in Figures 5, 6 and '7. A passage 28 in the member 20 connects to a line 29 for supplying fluid under pressure and opens into the bore in which the anvil 23 reciprocates, as indicated in Figure 6. In filling and sealing the capsule, the sealing element 3 will be screwed on to the, end of plunger 25, as indicated in Figure 6, and the plunger and anvil will be raised as indicated. The capsule shell I is now placed in position and pressed firmly upwards against the sealing ring 2 I, by a relatively moveable support 30. Gas under pressure is now introduced through line 29, filling the capsule shell I through the space within the sealing means 2l and above the capsule I. The anvil 23 and plunger 25 are now brought down so that the lower surface of flange 5 is pressed against the capsule shell I, and plunger 25 is retracted, upsetting the wall material of the sealing element 3, as indicated in Figure 7, to form a seal, by compressing the band 9 as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4. Manufacture is completed by welding, the welding step shown in Figure 8 being the same as that previously described in connection with Figure 4.

Various devices for piercing the capsule may be provided. Figures 9 and 10 show one such device. This device comprises a member having a shank 3| with a screw-threaded portion 32, and a piercing pin 33. The screw-threaded portion 32 may be screwed into the screw-threaded part 'l of the sealing member 4 as indicated in Figure 9 so as to force the piercing point 33 through the sealing element wall below the central bore 6 therein. A passage 34 which extends down through the piercing point 33 will then discharge the fluid within the capsule. The dispensing device of Figure 10 `vill be provided with a knurled rim 35 or other means for turning the same with the fingers. A small tubular washer 36, of rubber or other elastic material is inserted in the bottom of the bore 6 of the sealing element 3, either before or after the sealing element is assembled with the capsule shell I. This washer will seal around the piercing point 33, thus preventing leakage even though the nt of the threaded portions 'I and 32 may be quite loose.

Figure 11 discloses a different form of dispenser and also a somewhat different capsule construction. The capsule is provided, in this case, with a central syphon tube 40 which is attached to the lower end of the sealing element 3, as indicated, and may be welded thereto or merely have a driven t thereon. This syphon tube will extend downwardly close to the bottom of the capsule shell so that substantially all the contents of the shell may be discharged without losing the propellent gas and while holding the capsule in an upright position. The dispensing device or head of Figures 1l and l2 comprises a valve for regulating the now from a central passage 4i, which communicates with the interior of the capsule, to the discharge passage 42. The valve comprises a fiat seat 43, into which the passage 4I opens and in which an annular groove 4A communicating with the exhaust passage l2 is formed. A bell 45 is screwed into threaded socket I6 and compresses the periphery of an elastic valve disk 41 so as to seal the same to the periphery of the valve seat 43. A spring 4B serves for holding the center of the valve disk 4l against the seat 43 for closing the valve and a thumb lever 49 and valve rod 5I) provide for lifting the center of the valve disk 4'! for opening the valve. The movement of the thumb lever 49 which is required is slight, and is readily provided for by the camming action of the bulge 5I under the lever 49, whenever the lever is rocked.

Figures 13 and 14 show a sealing element and dispenser head for use therewith, of still another type. In this construction, the sealing element 3 is formed with an opening 63 at its bottom and an enlarged bore section Si below the the threaded section l. A sealing plug 62 of generally cylindrical form is forced downwardly through the threaded section l so as to seat in the enlarged bore portion 6I, being held in compressed and sealing relation with the wall of the sealing element 3 by shoulder 33 at the top of the enlarged bore section. The sealing element 62 will bulge downwardly through the opening 60, forming a pressure-tight seal therewith. The dispensing element 6d may be generally similar to that shown in Figures 9 and 10, but will have a longer piercing pin 65, which, when the element 64 is screwed into the sealing element 63, will penetrate the sealing plug 62, as shown. The sealing plug 62 may be self sealing so that the dispenser element 64 may be unscrewed after the use of part of the contents of the capsule.

Figures 15 and 16 show a dispensing element and sealing element for use therewith, which are designed for a controlled discharge of the capsule contents and in which the valve closing action is assisted by the pressure of the fluid in the capsule. As shown in Figure 16, the sealing element 3 in this case is formed with an open lower end having a downwardly extending annular rim 70, and a valve member 'H is provided. This valve member has a screw-threaded shank portion '.'2 which is threaded into the screw-threaded section 7 of the bore 6 in the sealing element 3. The valve element 7l has a longitudinal bore passage 73 communicating with a cross bore 14, for discharging the contents of the capsule. The head 75 of valve member 'H is grooved as indicated in Figure 15 and'contains a sealing ring 16 or rubber or other suitable material. If the valve member 'H is screwed upwardly into the sealing element 3, the rim 79 will compress the sealing ring 76, thus closing off the cross bore 14 from the interior of the capsule and preventing the discharge of fluid. If, however, the valve member 7l is screwed downwardly with relation to the sealing "element 3, a space will be opened up between sealing rim 'E9 and sealing ring 16, permitting the discharge of fluid from the capsule into the cross bore lll and thus upwardly through the central bore 73. The dispenser element or head for use with this capsule includes a valve operating member in the form of a rod 17, provided with a fiat end 18 for entering into a slot 'E9 in the screw-threaded portion 72 of valve member 7l, for turning the same. The upper end of rod 'li is formed with a knurled knob 80 for turning by the iingers, and the dispenser head may be fastened and sealed to the capsule by welding as indicated at 8|, or by a screw thread, as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of forming a pressure fluid capsule which comprises inserting in the neck opening of a capsule shell a blind rivet having a head seating on the surface of the capsule shell around the neck opening and elastic insulating material surrounding its shank, drawing the inner end of the said rivet outwardly to upset' the same and compress said elastic material into pressure sealing engagement with the inner surface of the shell, and electrically welding the head of the rivet to the outer surface of the shell surrounding the neck opening.

2. A pressure fluid capsule comprising a capsule shell having a neck opening and a closure member for said neck opening, said closure member having a head overlying the shell around the neck opening and an inner portion drawn outwardly and expanded into pressure engagement with the inner surface of the capsule shell, the said closure member having also an opening through its head, an internally threaded bore inwardly of its expanded inner portion and a closed end inwardly of the said threaded bore.

3. A pressure fluid capsule comprising a capsule shell having a neck opening, a blind rivet closing said neck opening and having a threaded central bore for receiving the capsule opening member of a dispensing head, and a correspondingly threaded valve member in said bore and operable by turning therein to control the discharge of uid.

4. A pressure uid capsule comprising a capsule shell having a neck opening, a blind rivet closing said neck opening and having a central threaded bore for receiving the correspondingly threaded capsule opening member of a dispensing head, and a syphon tube afliXed to the inner end of said rivet for discharging fluid into the central bore thereof.-

5. A capsule according to claim 4, in which the said rivet comprises a puncturable wall within said syphon tube at the inner end of said bore.

6. A pressure fluid capsule comprising a capsule shell having a neck opening, a blind rivet closing said neck opening and having a threaded central bore for receiving the correspondingly threaded capsule opening member of a dispensing head, the said central bore passing through the end of the rivet, and valve means cooperating with the inner end of the rivet for controlling discharge of fluid.

7. A pressure fluid capsule comprising a capsule shell having a neck opening, a blind rivet closing said neck opening and having a threaded central bore for receiving the correspondingly threaded capsule opening member of a dispensing head, and an elastic sealing member seated at the inner end of said bore.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 123,926 Osborn Feb. 20, 1872 393,334 Judd NOV. 20, 1888 534,604 Franklin Feb. 19, 1895 633,537 Stewart Sept. 19, 1899 739,589 Clifford Sept. 22, 1903 1,022,301 Campbell Apr. 2, 1912 1,189,294 Ruggles July 4, 1916 1,287,046 Knapp Dec. 10, 1918 1,307,755 Ross June 24, 1919 1,649,530 l-lolsinger Nov. 15, 1927 1,728,476 Cone Sept. 17, 1929 1,795,560 Johnston Mar. 10, 1931 2,078,553 Allen et al Apr. 27, 1937 2,144,701 Campbell et al Jan. 24, 1939 2,149,199 Waner Feb. 28, 1939 2,188,422 Waner Jan. 30, 1940 2,218,931 Carlson Oct. 22, 1940 2,245,298 Proctor June 10, 1941 2,266,611 Martin et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,343,276 Carlson Mar. 7, 1944 2,355,492 White Aug. 8, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 530,016 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1940 612,074 Great Britain Nov. 8, 1948 

